Abstract: An impedance source power converter includes a power source, a main converter circuit and an impedance network. The main converter circuit is coupled to a load and the impedance network couples the power source to the main converter circuit. The impedance network is configured such that the main converter circuit is adapted to perform both buck conversion and boost conversion.

Abstract: A low cost power conversion device operating at a high frequency with high efficiency is realized by using semiconductor switching devices such as FETs being inexpensive and having low withstand voltages and low forward voltage drops. A second error signal obtained by comparing the voltages across two input capacitors connected between both ends of a DC input power supply is subtracted/added from/to a first error signal obtained from a voltage corresponding to a combined DC output of rectifying circuits and the voltage corresponding to a predetermined reference power. Based on the resultant signals, the voltage of a control signal supplied to an inverter circuit in which the voltage across an input capacitor is higher is increased, while the voltage of a control signal supplied to another inverter circuit in which the voltage across another input capacitor is lower is decreased, thereby balancing the voltages across the input capacitors.

Abstract: A method for driving at least one inductive load using pulse width modulated control signals, via a PWM control unit, the control pulses of the PWM control signals connecting the load to and disconnecting it from a d.c. supply voltage via a semiconductor output stage. To prevent the formation of an a.c. voltage occurring on the d.c. supply voltage in the case of pulse-wise loading of the same by the PWM control signal, the PWM control unit is assignable a supplementary device including a storage capacitor and/or storage inductor having a semiconductor switch, and the semiconductor switch is controllable by the PWM control unit switch on one charging current circuit powered by the d.c. supply voltage for the storage capacitor and/or the storage inductor.

Abstract: A method of transferring energy from a power source into an output node including the steps of separately charging each of a plurality of energy storage elements from the power source; after the plurality of energy storage elements are charged, discharging a selected one of the energy storage elements through an inductive element into the output node; and as the selected energy storage element is being discharged through the inductive element, when its voltage reaches a preselected value, discharging another one of the energy storage elements through the inductive element into the output node.

Abstract: A method of transferring energy from a power source into an output node including the steps of separately charging each of a plurality of energy storage elements from the power source; after the plurality of energy storage elements are charged, discharging a selected one of the energy storage elements through an inductive element into the output node; and as the selected energy storage element is being discharged through the inductive element, when its voltage reaches a preselected value, discharging another one of the energy storage elements through the inductive element into the output node.

Abstract: A magnetically variable transformer having primary and secondary windings wound on a magnetic core wherein the transformer core with associated windings is placed in close proximity to an independently wound control coil. The control coil is positioned in one configuration on a focusing armature whose poles straddle the transformer core at positions on opposing sides. In a second configuration the transformer core is placed within the bore of the control coil and an optional focusing armature concentrates the magnetic field at the poles. Application of a control current forms poles at the control coil extremities and causes a change in permeability of the transformer core thereby altering the power output of the transformer inversely to the magnitude of the control current. The magnetically variable transformer controls a D.C. to A.C. inverter circuit which is useful in supplying power to a fluorescent lamp and other A.C. receptive loads. Additionally, a derived D.C.

Abstract: An asymmetrical half-bridge converter, a method of operating the same and a power supply that incorporates either the converter or the method. In one embodiment, the converter includes: (1) a power transformer that receives asymmetrical AC input power into a primary winding thereof via an input capacitor, the asymmetrical AC input power inducing a DC bias current in a secondary winding of the power transformer and (2) first and second serially-coupled output inductors coupled across the secondary winding and having parasitic resistances associated therewith that are independently selectable to attenuate the DC bias circuit in the secondary winding.

Abstract: An electrical power transfer apparatus for connecting to a multiphase power line carrying a AC signal having a period of T.sub.AC, the apparatus including: a capacitive storage circuit; a plurality of charge transfer circuits connected to the capacitive storage circuit and each of which is connected to a different phase of the multiphase power line, wherein during operation the charge transfer circuits resonantly transfer power to and from the multiphase power line and capacitive storage circuit, wherein the resonant transfers to and from the capacitive charge storage circuit occur with a resonant frequency at least as great as 1/T.sub.AC ; and a control circuit coupled to the plurality of charge transfer circuits and which during operation causes the plurality of charge transfer circuits to transfer power between different phases of the multiphase power line via the capacitive storage circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides smooth conversion of electric power between an AC line operating at a first voltage and a DC line operating at a second voltage bearing a fixed ratio to the first voltage. In one embodiment, polyphase AC is converted to rippled DC. In one embodiment, switched DC is converted to AC of one or more phases. The electric power converter of the invention uses a single electrical winding can be thought of as derived from the formerly well-known, and now largely forgotten, synchronous converter by locking the rotor, discarding the field winding and its power supply, replacing the AC slip ring contacts with hardwired connections, and replacing the DC commutator taps, bars and brushes with rectifying taps. Thus, the new power converter may be referred to as a single-winding static synchronous converter.

Abstract: A transformerless power conversion system including a plurality of capacitors connected in series; a charging circuit connected to the plurality of capacitors, the charging circuit charging the plurality of capacitors from a voltage source to a predetermined voltage; a circuit for inverting the polarity of the charge stored in selected capacitors of the plurality of capacitors, the polarity inverting circuit including a plurality of inductor circuits, each of which can be switchably coupled to a corresponding different one of the selected capacitors to form a resonant circuit which aids in inverting the polarity of a stored charge in that capacitor; and a discharging circuit for extracting power from the plurality of capacitors at a transformed voltage.

Abstract: A microcomputer that reduces through current of output buffers, and thus, reduces power line fluctuation that occurs when a large number of the bus lines connected to output buffers change state at the same time. The through current (or punch-through current) is reduced through the use of a detector circuit that detects the number of bus lines which are changing state and a decoder circuit that changes the impedance of output buffers, which drive the bus lines to external components, when the number of bus lines changing state at a given time exceeds a predetermined number.

Abstract: This disclosure consists of two fluxgates, a signal generator and an invertor transformer. Signal current flowing from right to left through the signal coil of a first fluxgate allows power current flow from left to right through the power coil, adding energy to the signal current and hence on through a second fluxgate trigger coil. Simultaneously signal current, enhanced by the induced power current, is moving from left to right through the signal coil on the second fluxgate and prevents power current flow from left to right in the power coil of the second fluxgate. Power current flowing through the trigger coil on the second fluxgate reduces energy stored in the core, allowing the signal current to reverse cycle. Energy induced into the signal circuit by the power coil passes back into the power circuit through the trigger coil and the collapse of the magnetic field upon completion of the second quarter of the cycle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new Transformerless Power Conversion System (TPCS) that allows a direct voltage step-up or step-down of DC or AC power without the use of magnetic core transformers. The operation is accomplished with solid state switching devices, capacitors, preferentially air core inductors and a switch control system.The conversion and step-up from AC to DC and the inverse process can be implemented with high efficiency and without the generation of harmonics. The transformer elimination in conjunction with high inversion frequency operation results in a low weight system without transformer core losses and third harmonic generation. For high ratio DC to DC transformation the TPCS transports the input charge directly to the output without requiring an AC link. The three distinct operations of charging, transformation, and energy discharge are typically in sequential order and allows a complete isolation between the input and output power grids.

Abstract: A load is provided, at all times when in operation, with a D.C. voltage having at least a minimum holding magnitude by: providing a source voltage having a peak magnitude greater than the holding magnitude; connecting the source voltage to the load only while the source voltage magnitude is greater than a preselected magnitude; charging from the peak source voltage magnitude an energy storage element while the load is connnected to the source voltage; energizing the load from the charged energy storage element whenever the source voltage magnitude is less than the preselected magnitude; increasing the effective impedance of the load whenever the load is energized by the storage element; and selecting the energy storage element to provide at least the holding voltage to the load during each time interval when the energy storage element is connected to the load.

Abstract: An alternating to direct current power converter utilizing dynamically controlled electromagnetic induction. A feedback system controls permeance within a network of magnetic paths by progressive saturation or domain rotation within selected portions of the paths to provide unidirectional direct current power from an ac input.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electrolyzer power supply, especially for use in the industrial production of hydrogen. It is constituted by four sub-assemblies placed side-by-side in a filter-press type structure. These sub-assemblies each comprise electrodes coupled two by two, electrolytic compartments being defined between two groups of electrodes. One group of these electrodes, preferably half of them being made of a metal that has a rectifying effect on AC current, and preferably being aluminum, aluminum-zinc alloys, niobium or tantalum. The counter-electrodes are adapted to evolve oxygen. They are preferably iron, nickel or carbon. A generator providing an alternating current is connected between the end electrodes and between the second and third sub-assemblies. DC is taken from between the first and second and from between the third and fourth sub-assemblies.

Abstract: An electric current regulation, commutation and conversion device, which is particularly adapted for current regulation and commutation in rotating direct current electrical machines and for converting alternating current into direct current or vice versa. At least one conductor is disposed in at least one slot in a ferromagnetic lamination pack, the shape of the conductor cross-section and its arrangement in the slot being such as to intensify the additional resistance caused by the dispersion flow due to the current running therethrough. The magnetic circuit constituted by the lamination pack and linked to the current in the conductor is such as to minimize the inductance of the conductor, and the walls of the conductor containing slot are of such a form and arrangement as to be able to be saturated by an external magnetic control field superimposed on the magnetic field due to the current in the conductor.

Abstract: In a voltage supply circuit for voltage-dependent capacitor diode tuning, a d.c. voltage is produced by a.c.-d.c. conversion of an a.c. voltage which is obtained by amplifying an a.c. signal from an oscillator with the aid of a transistor amplifier of the series-feedback type having an amplifying transistor having an amplification factor depending on a variable reactance coupled to an emitter of the amplifying transistor. The variable reactance controls the amount of negative feedback to obtain the corresponding gain of the amplifier. The degree of amplification decreases as the amount of the negative feedback increases, so that the output d.c. voltage will be stable especially in a low voltage region.